John Wesley Romine

Personal History

Significant Events of 1842

• Antarctic explorer James Clark Ross, charting the eastern side of James Ross Island, reaches a Farthest South of 78°09’30″S.
• The Treaty of Nanking, an unequal treaty between Britain and Qing dynasty China, ends the First Opium War, and establishes Hong Kong as a British colony until 1997.
• The Webster–Ashburton Treaty is signed, establishing the United States–Canada border east of the Rocky Mountains.
• The University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana (United States) is established by Father Edward Sorin, of the Roman Catholic Congregation of Holy Cross. Also, Villanova University is established in Villanova, Pennsylvania by the Augustinian order.
• American medical student William E. Clarke of Berkshire Medical College becomes the first person to administer an inhaled anesthetic, to facilitate a surgical procedure (dental extraction). American physician and pharmacist Crawford Long administers an inhaled anesthetic (diethyl ether) to facilitate a surgical procedure (removal of a neck tumor).
• US Naval Observatory authorized by an act of Congress. Christian Doppler presents his idea, now known as the Doppler Effect (through the changing colors of binary stars), to the Royal Bohemian Society, Prague.
• James Nasmyth patents the steam hammer in the United Kingdom. The first known sewing machine is patented in US by John Greenough of Washington, D.C. American blacksmith Micah Rugg patents a nuts & bolts machine.
• First adhesive postage stamps in US (private delivery company), New York City.
• Illustrated London News; the world’s first illustrated weekly newspaper, begins publication.
• Commonwealth v. Hunt: The Massachusetts Supreme Court makes strikes and unions legal in the United States.
• The New York Philharmonic, founded by Ureli Corelli Hill, performs its first concert.
• Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine leave Liverpool, England for America on board the RMS Britannia.